System and method for managing virtual user domains

• US 20060195888A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monarch Networking Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Kalonji, Ndiata, Pham, Lance
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

The present invention addresses the previous of lack of subscriber identity tracking and management for residential broadband lines and provides customized access and enhanced IP services for a subscriber'"'"'s household members (virtual user domain) and his/her circle of extended families, relatives, and friends (multiple virtual user domains). Rather than treating a broadband link as a single connection with a single set of services and quality constraints, the present invention enables the subscriber to create multiple user profiles per broadband link; tailor activities such as web services to a specific user and group profile; provide restricted access to minors (e.g. allow only age appropriate content to be viewed); and facilitate connection at multiple access points on a carrier'"'"'s edge network.

Claims

1. A method of providing user-centric data services across a single broadband communications link, the method comprising:

establishing a virtual user domain for the single broadband communications link that includes usage characteristics from plural users;

authenticating a first user of the plural users to a controller of the virtual user domain in order to provide a first user-specific data access control to the first user across the single broadband communications link; and

providing a second user-specific data access control to the first user across the single broadband communications link.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the single broadband communications link comprises a DSL connection.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the single broadband communications link comprises a cable modem connection.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second user-specific data access control comprises a logical OR of the first user-specific data access control and a domain specific data access control.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second user-specific data access control comprises a logical AND of the first user-specific data access control and a domain specific data access control.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of authenticating comprises providing a user identity and a password.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of authenticating comprises providing a user identity and a password to a remote device and receiving a response from the remote device.